Social Care Cap to be scrapped by Next Summer

Social Care Cap to be scrapped by Next Summer

The current £72,500 cap on social care costs in England is to be scrapped. The cap, which was primarily introduced by Dilnot commission in 2011, is said to be terminated by summer 2018.

Jackie Doyle-Price informed MPs that the government would not “taking forward the previous government’s plans to implement a cap on care costs in 2020″.

In a statement given to the Commons, Ms Doyle-Price explained there would be a process of “initial engagement over the coming months” to shape the long-term reforms which will published in a green paper next year.

The cap recommended by the Dilnot commission was put into an Act of Parliament, but the government revealed a radically different proposal during the election campaign, which faced public backlash and some believe it is what caused PM May to fall short of the majority.

Ms Doyle-Price said: “The prime minister has been clear that the consultation will include proposals to place a limit on the care costs individuals face.

“To allow for fuller engagement and development of the approach with reforms to the care system and the way it is paid for considered in the round, we will not be taking forward the previous government’s plans to implement a cap on care costs in 2020.”

Former Conservative minister Sir Desmond Swayne said: “In the absence of provision that I might make, and indeed Dilnot might have encouraged me to make, is it reasonable for me to expect for my social care costs to be paid for by the state, and yet my heirs to inherit my substantial housing assets?”